A massive general strike, called for by Palestinian factions, brought all aspects of daily life in Palestine on Thursday to a halt in protest at US president Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as a capital for the Israeli occupation state.

All stores and institutions, including schools and universities, closed their doors in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories in response to calls for participating in a general strike following Trump’s declaration.

Major Palestinian factions in Occupied Jerusalem and the Association of Palestinian Scholars also urged the Palestinian people and the Muslim nation to launch popular uprisings protesting the US step.

Trump on Wednesday defied overwhelming global opposition by signing a declaration claiming that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.